Global

The Strait of Hormuz blockade is the second time in the last few years where military conflict is impacting energy security. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, energy trade relationships were shattered leading many governments to question how to securitise their energy dependency and buffer themselves from future shocks. Renewable energy has increased dramatically, especially in Asian countries, which has helped in the current crisis. Many countries can boast that they are s

Moving money across borders is meant to follow compliance rules and regulations that are set by governments and followed by the financial institutions. This was already a difficult process to enforce with shadowy LLCs and offshore banking. If you do not want to pay high taxes or you do not want to devalue your wealth in exchange for other currencies, moving money behind the scenes was your best bet for a long time. The cost would be a new company name, registering that compan

Over the course of the war in Ukraine and now with the conflict in Iran and the broader region, news coverage has been filled with discussions about drones, missiles, their range, destructive power, and cost. Yet what is often missing from public discussions is that these weapons not only have a direct outcome on the battlefield, but there are even deeper implications:they define what strategic options a country actually has. A state that is capable of striking its adversarie

I sat down with the nail artist whom I first visited. Eyes to eyes, hands to hands for at least an hour. It is inevitable to have conversations to break the awkward silence. Having an expat in a foreign country. The kickstarting of the questions is always “Where are you from?” “Hong Kong.” I replied and smiled, and was ready for the bunch of expected questions.  “So, what language do you speak?” The nail artist asked.  “I speak Cantonese.” She thought about it for a while and

“Everything that exists requires energy to create and to operate—not some things, everything,” said energy analysis expert Mark P. Mills back in 2024. That remark may sound evident but it keeps returning to my mind in recent months with every new headline that piles up: Russian strikes on Ukrainian power stations, oil seizures and sanctions, a major blackout in Berlin, U.S. military action linked to Venezuela’s energy sector, and renewed American interest in acquiring Greenla

Global firms are changing the way they do business. Political decisions from powerful countries are changing how multinational companies (MNC) make decisions on their operations. This can be seen in many countries where there is political instability, whether it is heavily sanctioned or a newly formed regime change. Many countries that are deemed risky are often in a region that has an abundance of natural resources or located near a strategic chokepoint or have a large workf

Introduction: Christmas is not often linked to international relations or politics. It is generally seen as a time of celebration, peace, and goodwill, characteristics not usually associated with geopolitics, a subject filled with conflict, both morally and physically. Despite this, geopolitics does not pause during the festive season, and for centuries, the holidays have become entangled with geostrategy. While also being a significant religious and cultural tradition for ma